ChinaBird

Yes, this is real 😍 Ever feel yourself loosing focus on what's truly important in life, with family/kids, at work/school or spiritually? I think it happens to all of us sometimes. We so easily get pulled out to sea by the tides of life, and before we know it we're struggling to stay afloat. Every now and a again feel this way. Despite having a very rewarding job surrounded by an awesome team and kids, sometimes things get tense and I find myself frantically trying to not let life drown me out. A few weeks back, I headed out of Beijing for yet another Visa Trip. Before I left, I was feeling quite drained and exhausted from trying to stay "afloat". I love the "forced" vacation part of it, but frequent travel (every 60 days) can become tiresome and a little annoying as the expenses add up. Instead of heading down to Hong Kong, like I normally do, I ventured out and went somewhere new: Thailand. Pork Pad Thai! Let me start by saying, if Thailand i...

Good Day All, Happy December! It's crazy to think that we're nearing the years end. I'm struggling to wrap my head around how fast 2016 has gone, but I'm eagerly anticipating all that 2017 will bring. Do you ever think back to when you were a kid and you thought, "I'm never going to do *this or that* like *insert name*!!" I did this alllll the time. Ahhhh the ignorance and stupidity of youth. What most of us didn't understand back then was that we're more like or just like the person(s) we swore we'd never be like...that's why we didn't want to be like them. Now, yes, there are some people who set out to not facilitate certain negative behaviors/ familial patterns that they experienced in their youth, and I admire that. However, today, I'm not referring to that. When I was a little girl, I used to always say, "I'll never be like my mother" or "I'll definitely do *this* differently than my parents did......

Ever have one of those moments where you feel as though time has frozen, the world is moving all around you, yet you're stuck in a realm of calm and silence? It doesn't happen to me often but when it does, it's always a surreal moment. I had one of those this morning as I woke up. Just like every morning, I woke up to the sound of Zai shifting around in her cage,  as I opened my eyes and looked at my pup then glancing outside at the sunrise with it's orange and pink hues, it hit me like a ton of bricks...I'm in China. Yes, I know it may sound crazy, but it still hits me every once and a while...I'm living in China, working my dream job...my family is 6,585 miles away...I've left my home...yet everything I've done in life has led me to this very moment in my life... led me to this very morning!  I felt like I was still dreaming and trying to wake myself up except I couldn't because this is my reality not a dream. It's pretty cool, yet very humbl...

Hellloooooo! Wow, wow, wow! So, as I'm sure you all know, it's been a while since my last post. It's been a very busy time since my arrival back here in China. Despite the craziness, the big take away from that sentence is that, I'M BACK IN CHINA!! YAY!! I've officially been home for 2 weeks today, and It's sooooo good to be back: back with the cutest and most adorable kids in all of China (I'm biased - i know), back with my awesome co-workers, and of course back with my sidekick Zai! From the day I got back until now, it's really been a sprint and playing "catch up" but I have NO complaints! Have I been insanely busy? Yes, but I love what I do, where I do it and the people with whom I get to do it with - I'm so blessed. Ok, so in case you're wondering...here's what's been going on... Cathy 1. Therapy. Things could not be going any better! ....well, ok, they could be, but currently things are great! We have had sever...

Guess what today is? Yep! You guessed it! The day has finally come for me to fly home! Yay! I can not contain my excitement! China has become my home in these last 18 months that I've lived there and I can't wait to get home, and be amongst the kids, Zai and other loved ones at SFCV. Although China is my current home, Chicago will always be my home-home. I know that may not make much sense to most of you; however for those of you who have lived in 2 places or have served in other parts of the world, then you should know what I'm talking about. I've mentioned this intense feeling before, it's a feeling of having my heart in two places at the exact same time, loving where you're at yet still longing to be in that other place as well. It's complicated, yes, but good. It's a reminder to me that I'm loved and desired in 2 places by people who love and care for me immensely. It's always hard to leave Chicago or China (which ever in the scenario) bu...